What to pay attention to when planning a kitchen?

These days a kitchen is more than simply a place to prepare food, cook, and clean. Kitchens are domestic hubs, central
gathering points for family and friends to chat, dine, and socialise. The
kitchen has become an additional living space within most dwellings, exuding
comfort, style, and sophistication. As well as high-tech appliances, gadgets,
and advanced materials, cooking spaces these days are also areas that need to
be functional and comfortable, inviting the occupant to relax while preparing
meals and snacks.

Before your start fantasizing about all of
the fabulous inclusions your new kitchen might include, it is important to
consider the practicalities of your new cooking space. Today we will be looking
at the basics to get you started. Layout, equipment, scheduling and
construction, colour scheme, flooring, and furniture will be our starting
point, aimed at preparing you for your own kitchen renovation, refurbishment,
or rebuild.

Take a peek at the gorgeous kitchens below,
and obtain a little inspiration to update your space today!

Get organised!

Painted Shaker kitchen by Harvey Jones

The first thing you will want to do when you begin planning a kitchen is to ensure you are organised. Organisation will
mean the difference between a kitchen remodel that does smoothly, and one that
doesn’t. But what does organisation mean, and what can you do to safeguard
against a disorganised kitchen plan? Grab that pen and paper and start writing
lists. Lists are one of the best ways to keep track of everything you have
going on during the kitchen planning process.
Think about all of the things you would like in your new kitchen and jot
them down on paper. Additionally, making a floorplan of the areas is a great
way to see what should be included and excluded in the final plan.

Next up you will want to collect imagery of
kitchens you like. These might be found in magazines or online, and can help
communicate you design ideas to the builder. Lastly, you should consider and
organise your budget. Budgets are often the most difficult part of kitchen
planning, and if not organised can result in overspending and frustration.
Speak to a professional during this stage as budget planning can be difficult
for the uninitiated.

Equipment and appliances

Probably the most exciting phase of the planning is deciding what equipment and appliances you want in your new kitchen.
However, this can also be the easiest way to go over-budget. Everyone dreams of
a well-equipped kitchen, and these days there exists a plethora of great
accessories and accoutrements.

Wall design

Walls are often something that is forgotten in the overall design. With almost endless options, consider checking out
online the different possibilities and designs. Think about your colour scheme,
palette, and textures. Tiles, glass, paint, and veneer are all options than can
cover your walls and help to implement a personal touch in your cooking space.

Flooring design

If the walls are important in a kitchen, then the floors are even more important! Flooring can mean the difference between a practical and easy-care space, and a domestic nightmare. As the kitchen is one of the busiest spaces in a home, it is imperative you choose something that can handle the excessive foot traffic.

There are plenty of options for different flooring including concrete, tiles, timber, laminate, vinyl, stone, and more.
Pick your floor to suit your budget and style, remembering the most practical choice might not be your first choice. Think about style, size, pattern, texture, colour, and of course maintenance.

Furnishing the dining area

Last, but certainly not least is the dining space. The dining area is the space that will provide a gathering spot for
family and friends to enjoy everything that has been prepared in the kitchen.
The choice of furniture will greatly impact this space and by choosing something
stylish and practical, you will ensure maximum efficiency for your home. As
with many elements in the planning and design of your new kitchen, different
styles will affect the overall ambience and atmosphere of the space. As well as large pieces of furniture such
as chairs and tables, consider artwork, photographs, plants and textiles to enhance the room.

We hope this Ideabook gave you a few pointers and things to consider as you plan your new kitchen. If you would like to read more check out: Modern kitchen must-haves. Essentially,
kitchen planning is a multi-faceted undertaking that requires organisation, and
careful implementation of elements. Choosing a theme is extremely important, as
it will give a sense of cohesion and completeness to the space. Additionally,
consider your budget and maintenance requirements, which will help to create a practical
and effective new cooking space.